http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=At4EOEUPLHksvqhS8Zq8p6Y5nYcB?slug=ap-panthers-zednikcut&prov=ap&type=lgns

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik underwent surgery to close a deep gash on the right side of his neck and was in stable condition Sunday night after he was cut by a teammate's skate during a game.

"The surgery was successful and he's resting comfortably in the hospital," Panthers spokesman Brian Goldman said.

Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory, creating a frightening moment that delayed the game for about 15 minutes. There was also a brief discussion about postponing the game altogether.

Zednik was behind the play and skating into the right corner of the Sabres' zone, when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended by Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur. Jokinen fell head-first to the ice, and his right leg flew up and struck Zednik directly on the side of the neck.

Clutching his neck, Zednik raced to the Florida bench, leaving a long trail of blood. When he arrived, he nearly fell into the arms of a team trainer, who quickly applied a towel to the cut. Zednik was then helped off the ice by the trainer and teammate Jassen Cullimore, and escorted to the Panthers' dressing room.

"We shouldn't have finished the game," Jokinen said. "I saw the replay, that it was my skate that hit him in the throat. I think we were all in shock. I've never seen anything like that. There are bigger things than (finishing the game). It was terrifying.

"I didn't think anyone on our team was thinking hockey out there after an injury like that. If it was my call, I would have gone to the hospital with him."

Panthers spokesman Justin Copertino said Zednik was transported by ambulance to Buffalo General Hospital. Copertino said the team was making arrangements to have Zednik's wife, Jessica, fly from South Florida to Buffalo by a charter flight Sunday night.

The team was scheduled to return to Miami, but assistant general manager Randy Sexton and assistant trainer Dave Zenobi planned to stay behind with Zednik, Copertino said.

Zednik's injury left players and coaches on both benches stunned, and a silent hush fell over the crowd at HSBC Arena.

NHL vice president Colin Campbell consulted with Sabres general manager Darcy Regier and referee Bill McCreary in a tunnel after Zednik was loaded into an ambulance. Campbell, who was not available for comment, attended the game in part because his son, Gregory, plays for the Panthers.

In a statement, the NHL said that Campbell talked to commissioner Gary Bettman and decided to continue the game after knowing that Zednik was stable, that trainers had stopped the bleeding, and that the teams were willing to go on.

The league said: "The thoughts and prayers of the NHL family are with Richard Zednik, his loved ones, his teammates and the Florida Panthers organization."

"I can fully understand if they wanted to cancel the whole game," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "It was pretty solemn. There wasn't a lot being said (on the bench). There was just more concern for Richard than anything else.

"When you see something like that, it isn't about playing anymore. But I said, 'We're going to finish the game and it's going to be what it's going to be."'

As crews scraped the blood from the ice and the surface was cleaned by Zambonis during the extended delay, the public address announcer said: "Richard Zednik is in stable condition and on his way to a Buffalo hospital."

The crowd stood in applause during the announcement.

Zednik's injury was eerily reminiscent of an injury sustained by Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk about 19 years ago at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. On March 22, 1989, Malarchuk severed his jugular vein when St. Louis Blues forward Steve Tuttle was upended while skating toward the crease, slicing Malarchuk with a skate.

Malarchuk required over 300 stitches but spent only one night in the hospital, returning to practice after four days. On April 2, he played the final five minutes in the season finale, less than two weeks after his injury.

Panthers defenseman Steve Montador recalled seeing Zednik in a state of shock as he got to the bench.

"He looked pale, he was obviously standing and to a degree, coherent. But he didn't look as focused as you or I right now. He was staring at nothing," Montador said. "That's a pretty brave guy to realize what's going on: Grab your neck and get off the ice."

Zednik has 15 goals and 11 assists this season.

It was the second serious injury caused by a skate this weekend.

On Saturday, NHL linesman Pat Dapuzzo needed dozens of stitches to close a cut on his face after he was hit by the skate of Philadelphia Flyers forward Steve Downie in a game against the New York Rangers.

Dapuzzo, scheduled to retire at the end of the season, didn't return after the second-period injury.

Holy crap!  I remember that goaltender incident, I saw it on Youtube somewhere...I'm always wary of skates when I play the hockey :(

I am the same way!
I haven't seen that one on youtube, but I remember it from when I was young!
The thought of it gives me chills right now!

This was very tragic,I am a Sabres fan and was watching the game on TV,The fact that he had enough presence of mind to grab his neck and head for the bench on his own power till the trainer assisted him is amazing  I was glad to hear he was in stable condtion,and hope he is well on the road to recovery. The announcers were saying that when it happened to Clint Malarchuk he fell to the ice and did not get up,and was 2 minutes away from dying.

I wonder if this will make the players think about neck protection.  I recall some minor incidents where players get their hands skated over (which still sucks but isn't life threatening), players wear their helmets all loose and their gloves drop at the slightest bump so at the very least they should probably think about more secure protection.

I wonder if this will make the players think about neck protection.  I recall some minor incidents where players get their hands skated over (which still sucks but isn't life threatening), players wear their helmets all loose and their gloves drop at the slightest bump so at the very least they should probably think about more secure protection.

According to former Sabres player and now announcer Rob Ray he said that neck protection would not of helped because the blade is that sharp,he said that if you get a blade in your leg or anywhere that it is a clean cut and goes right through any type of clothing or pads.

Plus neck protection would probably not be worn anyway because it would likely restrict the player's movement since you have to look around quickly...

Plus neck protection would probably not be worn anyway because it would likely restrict the player's movement since you have to look around quickly...


I don't know, Marines used to wear straps of leather around their necks to protect themselves from sabre strikes,
hence the name "Leathernecks." I don't think that would be too restrictive. I sometimes wear gloves in work that
feel like cloth but are made of a Kevlar like substance that prevents cuts even from razor blades. I mean something
has to be better than nothing but your right, they wouldn't wear them. It's hard enough to get the players to wear
a face shield, they definitely won't wear something around their necks.

Yeah, the players only wear helmets because it's required by the NHL rules, otherwise they'd do without them...most of the players wear their helmets so loosely that there's no point even having them :P  I am sure they could make adequate neck protection but the supermacho players would just think it was a pansy accessory and the not-quite-as-macho guys would follow suit because they don't want to be viewed as pussies :P

I saw this on the news, and the first thing I thought of was the Clint Malarchuk incident in '89.  The way the players sometimes get knocked down and flip around the ice, it's amazing something like this didn't happen sooner.  Hockey is a dangerous game, and perhaps now players will think about wearing more equipment to cover exposed areas

The Buffalo Sabres are cursed.

Freak accident. Players will not voluntarily wear, and they will not be forced to wear any neck protection. Football players break their necks while tackling, they aren't forced to wear neck braces. Baseball players get hit in the face with the ball all the time, they aren't forced to wear facemasks (cept for the catcher of course ;))

The Buffalo Sabres are cursed.

Freak accident. Players will not voluntarily wear, and they will not be forced to wear any neck protection. Football players break their necks while tackling, they aren't forced to wear neck braces. Baseball players get hit in the face with the ball all the time, they aren't forced to wear facemasks (cept for the catcher of course ;))



As a fan of the Sabres,I totatly agree the Sabres are cursed especially after last season when we had the best record and did not even make it to the finals >:( hell this year were not even in the top 8 spots (though we are I believe in 9th) maybe not having the best record will take pressure off them,they have enough players that can score,I think they need to rest Miller more,this season we've lost several games in shootouts

But if you think they are cursed,hell no one could be more cursed than the Buffalo Bills >:( I've been a fan since 1972 and believe me there's times when it's very difficult ;D